English Lexicon

Fixed-term contract

/ˌfɪkst ˈtɜːm ˈkɒn.trækt/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #8500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    An employment agreement between an employer and an employee that is designed to last for a specified period or until a specific project is completed.

    "She accepted a fixed-term contract to cover for a colleague who was on maternity leave."
  2. 2

    A legally binding work arrangement that automatically terminates on a predetermined date without the need for formal notice.

    "The research position is offered on a fixed-term contract of two years, with the possibility of extension."

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Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term combines 'fixed' (derived from Middle English via Old French and Latin 'fixus', meaning fastened or established), 'term' (from Latin 'terminus', meaning a boundary or limit of time), and 'contract' (from Latin 'contractus', meaning drawn together or an agreement). Together, the compound phrase emerged in modern legal and employment terminology during the mid-20th century to describe formal employment arrangements with a predetermined expiration date.

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10 Global Lexicons: How "Fixed-term contract" is said worldwide

Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration

🇫🇷French → English

contrat à durée déterminée

Transliteration: kɔ̃.tʁa a dy.ʁe de.tɛʁ.mi.ne

"Il a signé un contrat à durée déterminée de six mois."

🇩🇪German → English

befristeter Arbeitsvertrag

Transliteration: bəˈfɪstətɐ ˈaʁbaɪtsfɛɐ̯ˌtʁaːk

"Der befristete Arbeitsvertrag läuft Ende des Jahres aus."

🇮🇹Italian → English

contratto a tempo determinato

Transliteration: konˈtratto a ˈtempo determiˈnato

"Lavora qui con un contratto a tempo determinato."

🇪🇸Spanish → English

contrato de duración determinada

Transliteration: konˈtrato de duɾaˈsjon deteɾmiˈnada

"Le ofrecieron un contrato de duración determinada por un año."

🇵🇹Portuguese → English

contrato a termo

Transliteration: kõˈtɾatu a ˈtɛɾmu

"Ele assinou um contrato a termo para cobrir uma licença."

🇮🇳Hindi → English

निश्चित अवधि का अनुबंध

Transliteration: nishchit avadhi ka anubandh

"उन्हें एक वर्ष के लिए निश्चित अवधि के अनुबंध पर रखा गया है।"

🇨🇳Chinese → English

固定期限劳动合同

Transliteration: gùdìng qīxiàn láodòng hétóng

"这家公司与员工签订了固定期限劳动合同。"

🇰🇷Korean → English

기간제 읻용 계약

Transliteration: giganje gyeyak

Script: 기간제 계약

"그는 2년 동안 기간제 계약으로 근무하고 있습니다."

🇯🇵Japanese → English

有期雇用契約

Transliteration: yūki koyō keiyaku

"彼女は有期雇用契約でプロジェクトに参加しています。"

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